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2016

Students experience Supreme Court through Court with Class

Madison, Wisconsin -
November 2, 2016

Students and teachers from schools in seven Wisconsin cities will visit the Supreme Court to attend oral arguments in Madison as part of the award-winning Court with Class educational program during November: Central Wisconsin Christian High School in Waupun, Albany High School, Horning Middle School in Waukesha, Randolph High School, Tomah High School, Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, and Palmyra-Eagle High School.

The students will learn about the Supreme Court by observing an oral argument live in the Supreme Court Hearing Room. During oral argument, lawyers on each side make their strongest points while being questioned by the justices. After oral argument, the students meet with a justice, who explains the role of the Court and how a case is decided. The students come away from Court with Class with a better understanding of the Supreme Court, the judicial branch of government and the legal issues involved in a case.

Since 1996, thousands of public, private, and home-schooled students have benefited from this educational program, co-sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Court with Class runs from September to April each year. Teachers interested in applying for Court with Class, may download and complete a registration form from the State Bar’s website and submit by e-mail to Supreme Court Deputy Marshal Kevin Pond, kevin.pond@wicourts.gov. For more information, visit the State Bar's Court with Classwebsite, or contact Kevin by email or at (608) 261-4313. Space is limited.

Teachers and students who are unable to make it to Madison in person may view arguments live or archived online on WisconsinEye. A live audio stream and archived recordings of past oral arguments are also available online. Additional teaching resources are available on the Wisconsin court system's website. Synopses of past cases can be found here.